TWO District Court judges have warned that it is "inevitable" after the killing of Veronica Guerin that a judge will be assassinated due to the increase in violent crime.
Judge Mary Martin, of Nenagh, and Judge Michael Pattwell, who, presides in courts in South Tipperary, both of whom have received threats, said it was inevitable that a District Court judge would be among the "casualties" in the future.
In remarks attributed to her in Ian article in the Tipperary Star, he said people would take to the streets if they knew the situation which pertained in the system at present.
People had taken to the streets to save hospitals, to press for reforms in the taxation system, to seek the abolition of third level education fees. They would also take to the streets if they knew "how weak our system is if there is no law and order, anarchy reigns"
Judge Pattwell said. "It is a garda one day, a reporter the next and will be judges next if we do not put down our foot." He said he had received threats, which he had taken seriously. He said he was profoundly sad and feared for the safety of all law abiding people after the death of Ms Guerin.
Judge Martin, who has been 13 years on the bench, said she was at risk, as were court clerks, solicitors and the public. She had been intimidated in the past. On one occasion three nuts were removed from the wheel of her car, and had their removal not been noticed before her departure, she believes she would have been killed.
She says she has to lock her car doors travelling through towns. She has had the hub caps removed on four occasions. Her car has been marked and stones have been thrown at her house.
She is critical of the politicians for the deterioration, in law and order. "It is the politician's job to attend to the business of the country, but they are looking over their shoulders and watching their own backs."
She believed that politicians had done nothing in the past decade to provide proper facilities protect and defend the ordinal decent, law abiding people of country.
The bail laws were also sharply, criticised by Judge Martin, who" said the proposed referendum bail laws should have been before now. She rejected suggestions that people would have difficulty differentiating between the bail laws and divorce and Maastricht issues. If there was likelihood of a person committing another offence while on bail, she should have the right to keep them in custody.
She was not only criticising this government but successive governments. "Everybody must take responsibility, every politician, every member of the State. If you had a newly elected politician murdered there would be horror and dismay. They would have the "Special Branch following them."